Cold Magnolia

After months of waiting, Pearl Buckley, an eighteen-year-old student living in 1924, has finally been accepted as a patron artist for a wealthy Southern family. Her dreams are in sight as she travels to Fairhope, Alabama, from her schooling in Atlanta, to paint portraits for the De La Vasco’s estate. With only a little guidance from her Professor, Pearl is thrust into the life of a very peculiar family. Secrets, riches, and death are quickly uncovered in this small town. Things are not what they seem. Is it lies or something more lurking in the shadows? She must decide to stand for her future or succumb to the De La Vasco’s deadly ways. Can Pearl keep afloat, while the De La Vasco’s world revolves precariously around her, or will her dreams be torn asunder? "Cold Magnolia will strongly appeal to readers who enjoy atmospheric historical Gothic fiction driven by mystery, artistry, and slow-building psychological tension. Fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Daphne du Maurier, Sarah Waters, and Katherine Arden will likely appreciate its blend of elegance, unease, and emotionally grounded suspense. It is a novel that rewards patience, drawing readers deeper into its haunting world chapter by chapter until its darker truths finally come into view." - Book Viral